Villa close in on Heskey deal

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Sources close to the club are "hopeful" that the England striker will be reunited with Villa manager Martin O'Neill in a deal worth between £3million and £4million.

Heskey initially indicated that he was prepared to stay with the Latics until the end of his current contract in the summer but the lure of playing again under O'Neill - and the possibility of Champions League football next season - appears to be too strong for him to resist.

Heskey first flourished as a teenager under O'Neill at Leicester during the second half of the 1990s and helped them to secure League Cup triumphs in 1997 and 2000.

Heskey eventually made an £11million move to Liverpool shortly after the second of those wins but he has always retained a strong bond with O'Neill.

It has been common knowledge that the Villa manager wanted to sign Heskey and he would provide competition for Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew, who is on his way back to fitness after a back problem.

Heskey's signing would represent O'Neill's first capture of the January transfer window as he looks to sustain a challenge for a top four spot in the Barclay's Premier League.

A source close to Villa said: "The club is hopeful of something being completed for Heskey after the two clubs spoke on Thursday.

"It is common knowledge that Martin has always been a big admirer of the player and Villa are hopeful something could be concluded in the next 24 hours."

Villa media relations representative Steve Tudgay would make no official comment on whether a deal for Heskey was imminent.